Oh, its so good to be smart!
I think i have it fixed - Oh it's soooo good to be smart!:D
What was it? For $5 i'll tell ya...:p
It was...drumroll please - mis adjusted valves!:3dSMILE:
it occurred to me that too tight valves might cause an over heat condition - and when the revs go up and oil pressure goes up and combustion pressures go up you get too much heat in all the wrong places. As to how they got too tight, well that is another mystery.
So for the few minutes it takes to pull a valve cover and check I figure'd i'd try it....idle engine, loosen till it clacks, tighten 1/4 turn more when the clack stops. Well, on the left bank EVERY valve was too tight, some by 3 turns! Idles smoother now too. on the right side only 1 seemed to be out of adjustment.
So i go for a ride - can't get teh guage to read above 210, and more importantly, when cruising at about 40mph with the guage at 210 it actually starts to drop! That is real progress!
My wife is out now for a hi way test...a real road test. I'll know soon if it was successful, and then i can put the thermostat back in. Got a good deal more power from the engine too.
Next obstacle may be gas mileage...got about 9 mpg on the first 60 miles....not good, not good at all.:CRY: